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Intel probably makes the best motherboards, but they're also the most expensive. Asus has a very good reputation and is reasonably priced. Biostar probably makes some of the least expensive, and in my experience they last 3-4 years. Since you're going with a used hard drive, you probably won't get more than that from it, if that. For RAM, I'd start with crucial.com although most stores that sell computers also sell RAM. You could check with Amazon, Micro Center, Best Buy, Frys, OfficeMax, etc.

Good luck.

Everyone with a computer should back his system up to an external hard drive regularly.

Intel probably makes the best motherboards, but they're also the most expensive.

First of all, Intel no longer makes motherboards (although they did make boards that'll support Sandybridge). Secondly, Intel boards are not the most expensive, and thirdly, Intel boards are NOT the highest quality.

I've seen you around here a fair bit and you appear to like to pull infomation out of your backside. Do you think you're benefitting anybody by doing this?

Also, you can't say "Biostar boards last three to four years". That's BS. There are SO many variables to motherboard longevity from one system and environment to the next you can't possibly lump every board from a single brand into a pile and say "These last 3 years."

OP- please give us a budget for your motherboard. B75 seems like a good bet.

BTW Why would you want to run 4x2GB instead of 2x4GB?? It seems kind of counter productive. If you run 2x8 you leave 2 RAM slots for future expansion.

Intel probably makes the best motherboards, but they're also the most expensive.

First of all, Intel no longer makes motherboards (although they did make boards that'll support Sandybridge). Secondly, Intel boards are not the most expensive, and thirdly, Intel boards are NOT the highest quality.

Funny I just came from Intel's site where they have numerous motherboards listed there

Did you notice there are no Z97 boards on that site? Intel NO longer makes motherboards. They stopped after Z87. They will not be making a Haswell-refresh or Broadwell platform. I said Intel no longer makes boards although they did make boards that support the OPs needs.

No doubt your Toshi and Dell laptops were made before May of this year? Z97 and derivatives will gradually replace Z87 as well as derivative lower end platofms (H87, B85, etc) this year.

Your laptops could very well have Intel motherboards. Does that prove anything? We're talking about Intel not making the best boards. The fact that you have Intel boards proves nothing.

Intel probably makes the best motherboards, but they're also the most expensive.

First of all, Intel no longer makes motherboards (although they did make boards that'll support Sandybridge). Secondly, Intel boards are not the most expensive, and thirdly, Intel boards are NOT the highest quality.

I've seen you around here a fair bit and you appear to like to pull infomation out of your backside. Do you think you're benefitting anybody by doing this?

Also, you can't say "Biostar boards last three to four years". That's BS. There are SO many variables to motherboard longevity from one system and environment to the next you can't possibly lump every board from a single brand into a pile and say "These last 3 years."

OP- please give us a budget for your motherboard. B75 seems like a good bet.

BTW Why would you want to run 4x2GB instead of 2x4GB?? It seems kind of counter productive. If you run 2x8 you leave 2 RAM slots for future expansion.

Motherboard budget is about 35gbp - 50gbp or a sack of potatoes :D!

Why would i want 4x2 instead of 2x4?

More RAM sticks, looks better inside the case, makes it feel more....complete + If need's be where i know someone that might need a stick or so, i can just send em it :]

and please can the thing with the fishy member thing or something be put to another thread? :0

Hi, the 1155 motherboards that are currently available are pretty limited but i did find the Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H that is reasonable and certainly fit in your budget range on Scan UK but the next logical upgrade would be the Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H which comes in at 72.92gbp.

Intel probably makes the best motherboards, but they're also the most expensive.

First of all, Intel no longer makes motherboards (although they did make boards that'll support Sandybridge). Secondly, Intel boards are not the most expensive, and thirdly, Intel boards are NOT the highest quality.

I've seen you around here a fair bit and you appear to like to pull infomation out of your backside. Do you think you're benefitting anybody by doing this?

Also, you can't say "Biostar boards last three to four years". That's BS. There are SO many variables to motherboard longevity from one system and environment to the next you can't possibly lump every board from a single brand into a pile and say "These last 3 years."

OP- please give us a budget for your motherboard. B75 seems like a good bet.

BTW Why would you want to run 4x2GB instead of 2x4GB?? It seems kind of counter productive. If you run 2x8 you leave 2 RAM slots for future expansion.

Motherboard budget is about 35gbp - 50gbp or a sack of potatoes :D!

Why would i want 4x2 instead of 2x4?

More RAM sticks, looks better inside the case, makes it feel more....complete + If need's be where i know someone that might need a stick or so, i can just send em it :]

and please can the thing with the fishy member thing or something be put to another thread? :0

You never want to cannibalize your system to send somebody a part. That's insane. You don't want to run 3 sticks of RAM on your system either as 1 stick will not be in dual channel.

Running more sticks puts more stress on the memory controller and is ultimately a foolish thing to do, mainly because you are blocking 2 slots unnecessarily. Get 2x4GB, leave the other 2 slots open for an additional 2x4GB in the future.